Is HCS Early College High a good school?

Yes! HCS Early College High is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 7 th of 235 South Carolina high schools.

How many students attend HCS Early College High?

In the 2022-23 school year, 313 students attended HCS Early College High.

What is the racial makeup of HCS Early College High?

Students at HCS Early College High are 40% White, 32% African American, 18% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

HCS Early College High

Summary:

HCS Early College High is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Conway, South Carolina, with a total enrollment of 313 students. This exceptional school consistently ranks among the top high schools in the state, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger and outperforming the state and district averages on end-of-course exams.

HCS Early College High stands out for its diverse student population, with 40.26% White, 31.63% African American, and 18.21% Hispanic students. Despite having a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students (77.64% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch), the school's academic performance remains exceptional, ranking 3rd in the state for low socioeconomic status students. This is likely due to the school's higher spending per student ($14,653) compared to nearby schools like Myrtle Beach High ($11,330) and Conway High ($13,996).

The school's commitment to equity and inclusion is evident in its exceptional performance for African American and Hispanic students, ranking 1st in the state for these subgroups. This demonstrates the school's ability to provide an excellent education to all students, regardless of their racial or ethnic background. When compared to nearby schools, HCS Early College High consistently outperforms its peers in academic performance, with proficiency rates often exceeding 90% on end-of-course exams. This exceptional school serves as a model for how to deliver high-quality education to a diverse student population, including those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Detail:

Public, Magnet 9-12

2050 Highway 501 East HGTC
Conway, SC 29528

(843) 349-3131

District: Horry 01

SchoolDigger Rank:
7^th of 235 South Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,653

Student/teacher ratio: 15.6

Number of students: 313

Racial breakdown:

White:

40.3%

African American:

31.6%

Hispanic:

18.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 77.6%

See top rated South Carolina high schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details HCS Early College High ranks better than 97% of high schools in South Carolina. It also ranks 2^nd among 12 ranked high schools in the Horry 01 School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 92.75. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at HCS Early College High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details HCS Early College High has the largest high school student body size in the Horry 01 School District. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at HCS Early College High is $14,653, which is the 3^rd highest among 12 high schools in the Horry 01 School District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

HCS Early College High:

SchoolDigger ranks HCS Early College High 7^th of 235 South Carolina public high schools. (See HCS Early College High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Horry 01:

SchoolDigger ranks Horry 01 9^th of 75 South Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for HCS Early College High

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Rank History for all students at HCS Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2011	99.31	3^rd	199	98.5%
2012	99.31	1^st	202	99.5%
2013	98.92	3^rd	203	98.5%
2014	98.52	3^rd	210	98.6%
2015	75.02	29^th	232	87.5%
2016	79.39	20^th	231	91.3%
2017	85.31	7^th	223	96.9%
2018	88.07	4^th	216	98.1%
2019	82.40	10^th	225	95.6%
2021	77.50	25^th	227	89.0%
2022	90.91	8^th	226	96.5%
2023	91.19	10^th	237	95.8%
2024	92.75	7^th	235	97.0%

See the entire list of South Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at HCS Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	94.10	2^nd	214	99.1%
2019	89.80	5^th	217	97.7%
2021	90.97	7^th	213	96.7%
2022	95.55	4^th	220	98.2%
2023	96.86	4^th	226	98.2%
2024	96.54	3^rd	229	98.7%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at HCS Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	86.57	4^th	210	98.1%
2019	81.73	11^th	213	94.8%
2021	71.80	39^th	213	81.7%
2022	88.66	10^th	220	95.5%
2023	87.89	14^th	223	93.7%
2024	90.14	10^th	225	95.6%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at HCS Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	91.49	3^rd	213	98.6%
2019	85.50	10^th	218	95.4%
2021	94.10	7^th	215	96.7%
2022	95.72	6^th	224	97.3%
2023	94.94	7^th	229	96.9%
2024	94.54	6^th	228	97.4%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at HCS Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	97.86	3^rd	183	98.4%
2019	90.54	6^th	184	96.7%
2021	91.66	4^th	178	97.8%
2022	98.35	3^rd	190	98.4%
2023	96.42	5^th	199	97.5%
2024	99.36	1^st	194	99.5%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at HCS Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	96.82	1^st	121	99.2%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at HCS Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	84.44	6^th	185	96.8%
2019	80.59	11^th	191	94.2%
2021	69.37	45^th	189	76.2%
2022	90.19	7^th	192	96.4%
2023	78.50	31^st	197	84.3%
2024	88.86	7^th	196	96.4%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: South Carolina Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: South Carolina State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Friday, November 2, 2012

This school is amazing.. My daughter has wonderful grades and a 92 in Science, but she is determined to stay after school for tutoring to make sure she has a 4.0 average. The teachers and school brings out the best in the students. It is an amazing opportunity. Close Quote

Enrollment information for HCS Early College High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2010	64	27	0	5	1	n/a	n/a	97
2011	132	40	2	11	0	1	2	188
2012	187	62	3	20	0	1	7	280
2013	239	91	3	26	0	1	10	370
2014	226	96	3	26	1	1	9	362
2015	206	97	2	45	1	0	15	366
2016	209	94	3	53	1	0	23	383
2017	181	91	3	67	2	0	27	371
2018	191	92	6	77	2	0	25	393
2019	186	107	6	68	4	0	24	395
2020	162	110	5	63	5	0	25	370
2021	150	107	4	59	4	0	21	345
2022	122	106	4	57	4	0	23	316
2023	126	99	4	57	2	0	25	313

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at HCS Early College High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	97	1.0	97.0	51.5
2011	188	22.0	8.5	58.5
2012	280	22.3	12.5	58.9
2013	370	24.3	15.2	58.9
2014	362	23.3	15.5	65.2
2015	366	22.0	16.6	70.5
2016	383	23.0	16.6	65
2017	371	22.3	16.6	61.5
2018	393	22.0	17.8	61.3
2019	395	21.0	18.8	62
2020	370	22.0	16.8	58.9
2021	345	22.0	15.6	42.9
2022	316	21.0	15.0	31.3
2023	313	20.0	15.6	77.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio HCS Early College High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	97	1.0	97.0	51.5
2011	188	22.0	8.5	58.5
2012	280	22.3	12.5	58.9
2013	370	24.3	15.2	58.9
2014	362	23.3	15.5	65.2
2015	366	22.0	16.6	70.5
2016	383	23.0	16.6	65
2017	371	22.3	16.6	61.5
2018	393	22.0	17.8	61.3
2019	395	21.0	18.8	62
2020	370	22.0	16.8	58.9
2021	345	22.0	15.6	42.9
2022	316	21.0	15.0	31.3
2023	313	20.0	15.6	77.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for HCS Early College High

Year	Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Total Expenditures from Federal Funds	Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$522 (5.2%)	$253 (2.5%)	$776 (7.8%)	$7,883 (79.0%)	$1,320 (13.2%)	$9,203 (92.2%)	$9,979
2020	$306 (3.1%)	$273 (2.8%)	$579 (5.9%)	$7,997 (81.1%)	$1,284 (13.0%)	$9,281 (94.1%)	$9,860
2021	$357 (3.3%)	$268 (2.5%)	$625 (5.8%)	$8,879 (82.7%)	$1,235 (11.5%)	$10,114 (94.2%)	$10,739
2022	$733 (5.9%)	$616 (4.9%)	$1,349 (10.8%)	$9,873 (78.9%)	$1,284 (10.3%)	$11,157 (89.2%)	$12,506
2023	$820 (5.6%)	$1,374 (9.4%)	$2,194 (15.0%)	$10,878 (74.2%)	$1,581 (10.8%)	$12,459 (85.0%)	$14,653

Data source: South Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on HCS Early College High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 10^th of 225 High schools	Ranks 10^th of 237 High schools	0.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (HCS Early College High)	83	97.7	14.7%
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (Horry 01)	81.8	81.4	0.4%
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (South Carolina)	68.6	68.3	0.3%
End of Course Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (HCS Early College High)	96	91.4	4.7%
End of Course Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (Horry 01)	79.6	69.3	10.3%
End of Course Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (South Carolina)	67.2	59.1	8.1%
End of Course English 1 (HCS Early College High)	95.4	100	4.6%
End of Course English 1 (Horry 01)	83.3	87.1	3.8%
End of Course English 1 (South Carolina)	78.9	84	5.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	395	313	20.8%
African American	107	99	7.5%
American Indian	4	2	50%
Asian	6	4	33.3%
Hispanic	68	57	16.2%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	186	126	32.3%
Two or More Races	24	25	4.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	62%	77.6%	15.6%

Schools Near HCS Early College High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (2024)	EOCEP English 1 (2024)	EOCEP U.S. History and the Constitution (2024)	EOCEP English 2 (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 End of Course	EOCEP English 1 End of Course	EOCEP U.S. History and the Constitution End of Course	EOCEP English 2 End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
HCS Early College High	Public, Magnet	9-12	2050 Highway 501 East HGTC	Conway	29528	Horry County	Horry 01	No	Yes	No	Yes	(843) 349-3131	313	20	15.6	77.6%	126 (40.3%)	99 (31.6%)	57 (18.2%)	4 (1.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (8.0%)	92.7	7^th of 235 public high schools	97.0%		91.2	10^th of 237 public high schools	95.8%	3	100.0	98.6	84.7	100.0	$14,653	$820	$1,374	$2,194	$10,878	$1,581	$12,459
HCS Scholars Academy High	Public	9-12	642 Century Circle	Conway	29526	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 349-4117	131	13	10.4	26.7%	103 (78.6%)	4 (3.1%)	5 (3.8%)	14 (10.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.8%)	97.7	2^nd of 235 public high schools	99.1%		98.1	2^nd of 237 public high schools	99.2%			100.0	100.0	100.0
Palmetto Academy of Learning Motorsports (PALM)	Public, Charter	9-12	826 West Cox Ferry Road	Conway	29526	Horry County	Horry 01	Yes	No	No	Yes	(843) 903-6600	162	15	10.8	40.7%	135 (83.3%)	6 (3.7%)	16 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.1%)	48	108^th of 235 public high schools	54.0%		27.9	164^th of 237 public high schools	30.8%	56	79.5	62.8	62.5	76.1	$13,996	$3,200	$163	$3,363	$7,059	$3,574	$10,633
Carolina Forest High	Public	9-12	700 Gardner Lacy Road	Myrtle Beach	29579	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 236-7997	3,059	157	19.5	57.8%	1,942 (63.5%)	372 (12.2%)	524 (17.1%)	63 (2.1%)	7 (0.2%)	3 (0.1%)	148 (4.8%)	75.4	36^th of 235 public high schools	84.7%		78.6	29^th of 237 public high schools	87.8%	7	85.0	73.2	74.0	91.0	$11,330	$660	$1,072	$1,733	$8,283	$1,314	$9,598
Conway High	Public	9-12	2301 Church Street	Conway	29526	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 488-0662	1,713	91	18.8	81.0%	873 (51.0%)	497 (29.0%)	234 (13.7%)	10 (0.6%)	6 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	91 (5.3%)	52.2	92^nd of 235 public high schools	60.9%		53.3	93^rd of 237 public high schools	60.8%	1	78.9	60.3	67.8	80.7	$12,814	$864	$1,109	$1,973	$9,318	$1,523	$10,841
Atlantic Collegiate Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	557 George Bishop Parkway	Myrtle Beach	29579	Horry County	Limestone Charters Association	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(843) 286-5990																			(n/a)	62.3	74.5	65.7	100.0
Socastee High	Public	9-12	4900 Socastee Boulevard	Myrtle Beach	29588	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 293-2513	1,719	97	17.7	60.0%	1,091 (63.5%)	148 (8.6%)	314 (18.3%)	48 (2.8%)	5 (0.3%)	9 (0.5%)	104 (6.1%)	63.8	65^th of 235 public high schools	72.3%		65.7	59^th of 237 public high schools	75.1%	6	76.8	75.3	65.8	85.6	$12,563	$757	$986	$1,744	$9,450	$1,369	$10,819
Academy For Arts/Science/Technology	Public, Magnet	9-12	895 International Drive	Myrtle Beach	29579	Horry County	Horry 01	No	Yes	No	No	(843) 903-8460	0	35	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Coastal High School	Public, Charter	9-12	3710 Palmetto Pointe Boulevard	Myrtle Beach	29588	Horry County	Limestone Charters Association	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(843) 788-9898	207	20	10.6	43.5%	130 (62.8%)	30 (14.5%)	29 (14.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (8.2%)	47.8	111^th of 235 public high schools	52.8%		56	86^th of 237 public high schools	63.7%	25	50.0	58.8	73.2	83.9
Myrtle Beach High	Public	9-12	3302 Robert Grissom Parkway	Myrtle Beach	29577	Horry County	Horry 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 839-7148	1,633	84	19.5	73.8%	629 (38.5%)	368 (22.5%)	483 (29.6%)	39 (2.4%)	4 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	107 (6.6%)	54.6	88^th of 235 public high schools	62.6%		53.3	92^nd of 237 public high schools	61.2%	4	79.2	65.7	73.9	78.0	$12,669	$838	$1,251	$2,089	$9,106	$1,474	$10,579

HCS Early College High

HCS Early College High:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Horry 01:

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for HCS Early College High

Rank History for all students at HCS Early College High

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at HCS Early College High

Rank History for Female students at HCS Early College High

Rank History for Male students at HCS Early College High

Rank History for African American students at HCS Early College High

Rank History for Hispanic students at HCS Early College High

Rank History for White students at HCS Early College High

Review counts

Enrollment information for HCS Early College High

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at HCS Early College High

Student/Teacher Ratio HCS Early College High

Per Pupil Expenditures for HCS Early College High

Impact of COVID-19 on HCS Early College High

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near HCS Early College High

Frequently Asked Questions about HCS Early College High

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